Capsule-filling device.



W. G. TOPLIS.

CAPSULE FILLING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 26, 1909.

Patented June 10, 1913.

2 SHEET8SEEET l.

M w g COLUMBIA PLANDORAPH C0,,wA5mNaTnm n. r

W. G. TOPLIS.

CAPSULE FILLING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 26, 1909.

1,064,56, Patented June 10, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

l5 5- 2/ 0 V Z /5 /5 A8 WILLIAM GEORGE TOPLIS, OF PHILADELPHIA,PENNSYLVANIA.

CAPSULE-FILLING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 10, 1913.

Application filed July 26, 1909. Serial No. 509,622.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, lVILLIAM GEORGE Tor- LIS,a citizen of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,have invented certain Improvements in Capsule-Filling Devices, of whichthe following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide, for use by pharmacists orother compounders of physicians prescriptions, a simple, cheap andeffective device for filling capsules with powdered or granularmaterial. This object I attain in the manner hereinafter set forth,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is atop or plan view of a capsule filling device constructed in accordancewith my invention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the sameon the line aa, Fig. 1; Fig. 8 is a transverse vertical section on theline b b, Fig. 1; Fig. 4. is a transverse vertical section on the line0-0, Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical section illustrating thefirst step in the filling of the capsules; Fig. 6 is a similar sectionillustrat ing the next step in the filling operation, and Fig. 7 is asimilar section illustrating the final step of the operation.

The main elements of the device are a capsule-receiving block and atrough resting thereupon and serving to receive the material with whichthe capsules are to be filled and to direct the same into said capsules.The capsule-receiving block comprises an upper member 1 and a lowermember 1 prefera ly of hard wood, such as maple or the like, andpresenting reverse wedges as shown in Fig. 3, whereby the line ofseparation between them is inclined, the upper member of the block beingdeeper at the front side than at the rear. The end portions 2 of theupper member of the block are of the full depth of said block and aregrooved for the reception of tongues 3 projecting from the ends of thelower member 1 of the block, as shown in Fig. 2, said lower member beingcorrespondingly shorter than the upper member. The upper member of theblock also has, by preference, at the front a depending tongue 1 whichserves as a stop to limit the forward movement of the lower member, andaccidental rearward displacement of the latter is prevented by a pin 5which is adapted to openings in the upper and lower members, as shown inFigs. 1 and 3.

The upper member of the block has formed therein any desired number ofparallel rows of openings 6, the openings of each row being of adifierent diameter from those of the other rows, and, because of thewedge shape of the upper member of the block, being also of differentdepths, the openings of the greatest diameter having the greatest depthand those of the least diameter the least depth, so that they willaccord with the relative diameter and depth of the capsules which haveto be filled, these capsules increasing in depth as they increase indiameter.

In the upper face of the lower member 1 of the block are parallel rowsof conical, rounded or tapering recesses 6, corresponding with the rowsof openings 6 in the upper member, and between the two members of theblock is-stretched a sheet 7 of rubber or other resilient material whichis confined to the lower member by having its opposite ends insertedinto grooves 9 in the ends of said lower member, as shown in Fig. 2, theend portions of the rubber sheet being preferably stiffened andstrengthened by the application thereto of an overlapping strip of metalor other suitable material, as shown in Fig. 2.

Mounted upon the capsule-receiving block is a longitudinal receivingtrough 10 having flaring sides and a flat bottom in which are formed asmany openings 11 as there are openings 6 in each row, these openings 11flaring outwardly from top to bot-tom, as shown in Fig. 3, for a purposedescribed hereafter. The tops of the openings 11 are preferably ofsmaller diameter than the smallest of the capsules to be filled, so asto permit of the free delivery of the material to said small capsules,but the bottoms of the openings are greater in diameter than the largestcapsules, so as to readily receive the upper ends of the same.

The trough 10 is secured in position laterally and longitudinally uponthe capsulereceiving block by means of depending split pins 12 one neareach end of the trough, these pins entering openings 13 formed in theblock at each end of each row of openings 6, and, in order to increasethe frictional hold of the pins 12 it is preferable to slightly spreadthe said pins as they are thrust into the openings 13, such result beingattained by means of a spreader plate 14:, extending across each opening13 and having its upper end tapered both longitudinally andtransversely, as shown in Figs. 2, and 4, whereby, when the split pins12 are pushed down into the opening 18 they will readily engage thespreader plates and will be slightly expand-ed laterally so as to pressupon the opposite sides of said spreader plates and resist accidentalvertical displacement of the trough 10. The spreader plates let aresupported vertically in the openings 13 by forking said plates at thebottom, as shown in Fig. 2, and then spreading said forks so as to causethem to bite into the walls of the openin s. In order to prevent thespringing upwarc of the cenral portion of the trough when its ends repressed d wn onto the capsule-receiving block, the bottom of the troughis, in its vrmal condition, slightly curved upward from the centertoward each end, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 5, whereby downwardpressure upon the ends of the trough will have the effect ofstraightening the same.

In using the device the capsules to be filled are first inserted in theopenings 6 of the proper row in the capsule-receiving block, and are setor adjusted into proper vertical position in the openings by meansof asetting plate 15 having projecting pins 16, which, by contact with thebottoms of the capsules, force the latter down into the openings 6 so asto depress them all to the proper extent. This may be done either beforethe application of the trough, or afterward, as shown in Fig. 5, thepins 16 in the latter case passing through the openings 11 in the bottomof the trough. The bottoms of the capsules force the rubber sheet 7 intothe conical openings 6 in the lower member of the block and, by reasonof the resiliency of these depressed portions of the rubber sheet, thetops of the capsules will, when the setting plate is withdrawn, beforced upwardly into the tapering lower portions of the openings in thetrough and the upper end of each capsule will be 'pressed closelyagainst the side walls of its respective opening so. as to prevent theescape of any material between said walls and the capsule. The powderbeing deposited in the trough the back of the setting plate 15 is usedto scrape or distribute the powder along the trough, as shown in Fig. 6,so that it will pass through the openings 11 and into the capsules, saidback of the plate being properly shaped to conform to the internalcontour of the trough whose sides converge until they meet the openings1.1 as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, in order that no shelves or projectionsmay be formed on which the material can accumulate, consequently all ofthe material will finally be deposited in the capsules or in the open-'ings above the same.

The thickness of the setting plate 15 is .ings 11.

Any material which may have accumulated in the openings is forced toenter the capsules by the use of'a finishing plate 17, as shown in Fig.7, this plate having depending pins 19 and being shouldered as at 20 soas to limit its descent and insure the compacting of the powder in thecapsule until it is below the upper edge of the same. The trough is thenremoved and the filled capsules are withdrawn from the openings 6 andcapped in the usual way. Instead of using the finishing plate 17, thematerial may be pressed down into the capsules by the pins 16 of thesetting plate 15, is desired.

The various operations attending the filling of the capsules can beperformed readily and without the exercise of any special skill, or riskof wasting any of the material.

The number of openings 6 in each row corresponds to the maximum numberof capsules of a given size which are likely to be filled at any onetime, and if a less number than the maximum is required the trough 10may be provided with a fillingblock 21 which will serve to confine thematerial to that portion of the trough which corresponds with the numberof capsules which are being used.

For the purpose of dividing the rows of capsule-receiving openings intoproper sections I provide the top of the capsule-receiving block withsection-indicating marks 22, as shown in F ig. 1, and in order thatthese marks may be indelible and free from liability to obliteration bythe frequent washings to which the capsulereceiving block is subjectedin order to keep it in a properly cleansed condition, I prefer to applyto the top of the block at the proper places narrow lines of a suitablematerial which will resist the action of dye or stain, and then toimpart a dark color to the block by dyeing or staining the same, afterwhich the resisting material can be removed, so that the block willpresent on its upper face indicating marks in the natural color of thewood and contrasting with the color of the dye or stain. For thispurpose the resistant is secured to the block in the first instance bymeans of gum arabic or other adhesive readily soluble in water, whereby,after the block has been stained or dyed the resistantcan be readilyremoved by washing. An other reason for dyeing or staining the block adark color, is to cause it to strongly contrast with the materials withwhich the capsules are to be filled, which are usually of a light color,consequently the presence of any stray particles of material on theblock or in the openings can be readily detected. WVhen, however, alight colored block is used, the indicating marks 22 may be burned intothe surface of the same or. otherwise indelibly produced thereon.

The trough 10 may be composed of any desired material, but it ispreferably made of some material such as hard rubber or glass which willnot injuriously affect or be injuriously affected by the chemicals whichare likely to be present in the materials with which the capsules are tobe filled.

By providing for the ready fitting together or separation of the twomembers of which the capsule-receiving block is composed and for theready application and removal of the rubber sheet 7 and the trough 10the perfect cleansing of the block and trough and their openings bywashing is permitted, the mixing of part of one prescription withanother is prevented and the device is maintained in a sanitarycondition at all times. The device, moreover, comprises but few parts,of simple and inexpensive construction, and its cost is thereby reducedto a minimum without detracting from its eiticiency.

I claim:

1. In a capsule-filling device, a capsulereceiving block comprising twomembers of reverse wedge shape and separable one from the other, theupper member having capsulereceiving openings formed therein andextending through the same.

2. In a capsule-filling device, a capsulereceiving block having thereinopenings with resilient bottoms which normally close said openings.

3. In a capsule-filling device, a capsulereceiving block composed of twomembers, and an interposed sheet of resilient material, the upper memberhaving capsule-receiving openings whose bottoms are formed by saidresilient material.

4;. In a capsule-filling device, a capsulereceiving block comprising twomembers, and an interposed sheet of resilient material, the upper memberhaving capsule-receiving openings therein and the lower member havingtapering recesses corresponding to said openings.

5. In a capsule filling device the capsule receiving block comprisingtwo members, one fitted to slide on the other, the upper member havingcapsule receiving openings formed therein and extending through thesame, said upper member providing an open bottomed recess for thereception of the lower member, which recess has at the sides projectingportions for the support of said lower member.

6. In a capsule-filling device, a capsulereceiving block comprising twomembers and an interposed sheet of resilient material, the upper memberhaving capsule-receiving openings therein and the lower member havingthe ends of the resilient sheet secured thereto.

7. In a capsule-filling device, a capsule-- receiving block comprisingtwo members and an interposed sheet of resilient material, the uppermember having capsule-receiving openings therein and the lower memberhav ing the ends of the resilient sheet let into grooves in the ends ofthe same.

8. In a capsule-filling device, a capsulereceiving block comprising twomembers and an interposed sheet of resilient material, the upper memberhaving capsule-receiving openings therein and the ends of the resilientsheet being overlapped by reinforcing material and let into grooves inthe ends of the lower member.

9. In a capsule-filling device, a capsulereceiving block comprisingupper and lower members mounted so as to slide transversely one upon theother, and means for preventing accidental displacement or release ofsaid members, the upper member having ca 'isule-receiving openingsformed therein and extending through the same and said upper memberpresenting an open-bottomed recess for the reception of the lowermember, which recess has at the sides projecting portions for thesupport of said lower member.

10. In a capsulefilling device, the combination of the capsule-receivingblock with a distributing trough having split pins adapted to openingsin the block, and spreader plates contained in said openings.

11. In a capsule-filling device, the combination of thecapsule-receiving block with a distributing trough having split pinsadapted to openings in the block, and spreader plates contained in saidopenings and tapered transversely at their upper ends.

12. In a capsule-filling device, the combi nation of thecapsulereceiving block with a distributing trough having split pinsadapted to openings in the block, and spreader plates contained in saidopenings and tapered both longitudinally and transversely at their upperends.

13. In a capsule-filling device, the combination of thecapsule-receiving block with a distributing trough mounted thereon andhaving split retaining pins adapted to openings in the block and actedupon by spreader plates the-rein, said spreader plates being forked attheir lower ends and having said forks forced into engagement with theblock in order to support the plates in the openings.

I l. In a capsule-filling device, the combination of thecapsule-receiving block, the distributing trough and a finishing platehaving pins for forcing the material into the capsules, and shouldersfor limiting the descent of said pins when the latter have properlypacked the material in. the cap sules.

15. In a capsule-filling device, the combination of a distributingtrough having a flat bottom and flaring sides, with a distributing plateof the same thickness as the width of the flat bottom of the trough.

16. In a capsule-filling device, the combination of a distributingtrough having a flat bottom and flaring sides, with a distributing plateof the same thickness as the width of the flat bottom of the trough,said plate having a flat back with beveled corner.

17. In a capsule-filling device, the combi-- nation of acapsule-receiving block, with a distributing trough having anormallycurved bottom slightly lower in the center than at the ends, and meansfor vertically confining the ends of said trough to the capsule-reoeiving block. 4

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

VILLIAM GEORGE TOPLIS.

\Vitnesses HAMILTON D. TURNER, KATE A. BEADLE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G.

